Telehealth Growing In California

Telehealth allows patients to consult with physicians through video conferences. The California Telehealth Network facilitates the service for hospitals and clinics in rural and under-served urban areas. It reports the number of consultations on its network is increasing 40 percent a year.

James Marcin is the director of Pediatric Telemedicine at UC Davis. He says the technology could lead to better care.

"A lot of times when the primary care provider is there with the patient and then the specialist beams in, then all of a sudden there is better communication with the providers as well," he says.

Marcin says patients tend to appreciate the service because it often saves them from having to make long trips to meet with a specialist.